DavidSSS

Hi

New here, not sure how active I will be but will look in.

I bought a bike earlier this year with Campagnolo Record 12 Speed Groupset (it is wonderful!) and, of course, spares are not cheap for Campy groupsets. I accept this but do look around at prices.

I came across this site: www dot campagnolobike dot com and their prices are amazing, and I do mean amazing.

For example, the cassette for 12 speed is 79% off, see www dot campagnolobike dot com / campagnolo-super-record-12-speed-cassette-discount/

Now, 79% off is stunning, but, is it too good to be true? It's not like this is an old groupset and they are trying to sell of the last of their stock, this is a cassette for a current groupset.

So, my question is: has anyone had any dealings with this mob? I figure they are in the USA since they ship via the US Postal Service so hoping someone here might know something.

Thanks
DS

PS: sorry the links above aren't links, don't have 10 posts so can't post links. I figure this is so people don't come here and post free advertising with 1 post and disappear.

Shadco 

Nope

.

Russ Roth

A quick search of the site's trustworthiness received mixed results, the site was originally set up over a year ago which gives credence to it not being a popup site to steal money but in that year's time it hasn't received a single review. So no one has claimed to be ripped off yet but no one has had a positive experience yet. The lack of a phone number to call is always a red flag, interestingly their outlet store has more honest looking pricing than their regular store which has seriously questionable pricing that look too good to be true. You could always email them for a phone number and see if they send one, the address is an office building so no clue there.

Alan K

You know what they say about something too good to be true… it almost always is!

Mackers

So you're saying there is no 90 cent Ekar groupset?

Garthr

It's another spoofing scamming website that has cropped up over the last few years for many brands across the board. There is a pattern to them all. First check the "About us", it doesn't say anything specific. The the "contact us".
No phone number is listed.
And the address is listed as :
480 California Ave STE 301
Palo Alto NY US
94306

Did you catch that ? Palo Alto New York, 94306 ? Palo Alto is in [size=13px]California[/size], hah hah . I've seen enough of these that I check the addresses on gmaps and every time it's a office suite with a different name to the business. This isn't even to mention the "too good to be true" pricing. You're better off seeking a "deal" from one of the many European cycling websites. The shipping can be high, but it depends on what you buy as to whether the total cost is worth it.

TiHabanero

DavidSSS, keep in mind Campagnolo Record is top shelf stuff and Campagnolo branded cassettes and chains will be priced accordingly, much the same with Dura Ace. There are aftermarket makers for those consumable items that are significantly less costly, yet work just as well. I use a Shimano cassette and KMC chain with my Record 11 speed drive train and it works flawlessly.

DavidSSS

Huge thanks to you all.

I did look for an address but never found one on the site (just looked, I really should open my eyes, on the contact form!). But, yeah, Palo Alto in New York. Even I, from the other side of the world, knew Palo Alto was in California. I must say I really don't understand how they make such errors when creating a site like this.

I did email them about delivery to Australia, no reply, so that was suss already.

TiHabanero, you are quite correct, Record is not a cheap groupset, which is why I was very surprised by those prices.

Looks like I will be paying the usual price for spares, such is life, they do last well and it works very well. I wasn't expecting parts to be cheap for a campy groupset!

DS

indyfabz

There’s also a Palo Alto in PA. Mexico and Rome are in NY. So are Verona, Palermo and Amsterdam.

Why spend the money traveling to Europe or south of the border?

Sy Reene

and not to be confused with DaveSSS

wheelreason

Yes, of course that site is totally legit, and always has everything in stock...

njkayaker

Given that it’s clearly a pop-up site to steal people’s money, when the domain was registered is not useful.

A year is still a rather short time.

Note that domains can be registered before it’s used (that is, it’s not an indication of how long the website has been active).

njkayaker

The ZIP code is for Palo Alto in CA.

The address is also “suite” (a PO Box, basically).

The “corporate headquarters” are in Alabama.

Garthr

David, try Bike24.com in Germany. They're a good and legit retailer. I have no idea if these are good prices for the groups however, I'm not up to speed on those.

https://www.bike24.com/road-groupset...ort=price_desc

njkayaker

$1 wheel sets? $1 12 speed groups?

If it’s looks “too good to be true” (that is, if it looks like they might be lying), why wouldn’t they be lying about where they are located or what they use for shipping?

========================

It’s obviously a fake website.

• Prices “too good to be true”. (Is it reasonable to expect they be able to sell for way-below wholesale price when other established companies can’t?).
• Use of official Campy logo.
• Odd/goofy/fake address. One that doesn’t show up in Google street view.
• No phone number. They say you can call them but there’s no phone number.
• Generic looking style for website (it’s using a template).
• Generic and non-specific text for info about the company. Look at the About Us page.
• The “headquarters” are in Alabama (inconsistent with other address).
• Short domain registration (you want years). A year isn’t enough to mean anything.

arider

"ShopCyclusUsa" has corporate headquarters in Alabama as well. Street address in Las Vegas. A Walmart as I understand.

DavidSSS

Yeah, Bike24 are pretty reliable. I tend to go there when I want a few things as postage to Aus is not cheap, then again, we often pay more for things here. Also, if you are buying, for example, Shimano stuff, you can't get it sent to Australia because Shimano only allow you to purchase through their Australian distributor. The upshot for me has been to buy Miche chains and the like for the bike with Shimano so they just end up losing sales.

Quite a scam the fake website, at least I am wary enough not to have tried to purchase from them. Looking at prices here, once the exchange rate is factored in, the prices at some online and physical shops in Australia are not much more than overseas.

DS

Bleu

a 9xxxx zip code is in California.

spclark 

S'why it's better to shop local when you can, if the locals have (or can get) what you want. May have to wait a bit but at minimum you have a fallback if what get's delivered isn't what you thought you were going to get.

zandoval 

Welcome to the forum. Looking forward to pics and stats on your bike in the future. Hope ta see more of you posting...

DavidSSS

That is true, but a lot of things are literally double the price here so people go online. We even have bike shops, who are restricted in their buying from websites in that the local distributor will often lock them out, who will fit parts bought online for you - their markup on parts is not good so they make a living by doing the mechanical work.

DS

Andrew_G 

Per BF member arider's remarks, I found this website: https://www.shopcyclustools.com/about-us/

I verified that the location is indeed a Walmart. The 'about us' description has identical text to the fake campagnolo retailer website.

I've normally bought from well known on line retailers, all without problems. Now, thanks to BF members, I now know to check the 'about us', location and feedback for ALL on line retailers!

veganbikes

Like I say every time this exact same thread comes up (with some other scam website). If you are already unsure about the website and think it is a scam, don't shop there. If it seems like a scam it probably is. Most manufacturers of quality goods have MAP and regulations on third parties/online sellers and things like that. They don't have budget stores or outlets barns or factory seconds.

There is never a deal to be had with one of these sites because you can just get your credit card info to someone or if you even somehow get the product which I would doubt you are a screwed out of any dealer or warranty support nobody will want to touch it with a 10 foot pole. We had a customer who initially saved $500 on a bike after coming to our shop and getting all the info and test riding it and then had what would normally be a warranty issue if it had been bought from an authorized seller which he decided not to do and had to spend over $1000 to replace a part which would have been covered so the money saved ended up with him spending more and still not having any warranty support. He basically bought a very overpriced used bike that was brand new instead of buying a brand new bike from the shop he spent time researching at. He thought he could scam the system and get a great deal and he ended up getting royally screwed.

Lamont Cobb

There is no need to take a chance with an iffy online site. You can save money if you buy used.